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  • Lucea FC, Coopers Pen meet in big JFF Championship qualifying game

    Lucea FC, Coopers Pen meet in big JFF Championship qualifying game

    The Jamaica Football Federation’s National Championships qualifying tournament is reaching its decisive phase, with four high-stakes matches scheduled for today that will reshape group standings and determine which teams edge closer to securing a spot in the 2026-27 season’s main competition. The qualifying round offers two total berths to the championships, with all competing sides vying to claim one of the four group winner spots that will advance to the next stage of contention, raising the intensity of every remaining fixture.

    The most anticipated matchup of the day will take place at Trelawny Stadium, where Group D’s top two sides Coopers Pen and Lucea will go head-to-head for sole possession of first place. Currently, Hanover’s regional champions Lucea sit atop the group standings with seven points, holding a narrow one-point advantage over second-place Coopers Pen, who have climbed up the table after back-to-back wins in their most recent outings.

    Lucea enters the match with both historical and positional momentum: the side is already one step ahead after a 2-1 victory over Coopers Pen in their first meeting, and a win today would give them a valuable season sweep over their closest rival. More importantly, a positive result would cement Lucea’s place at the top of the group, putting them on track to make history as the first ever team from Hanover to qualify for the JFF National Championships. However, Lucea cannot afford a slip-up: a loss against Coopers Pen would open the door for third-place Faulkland United to overtake both sides, assuming Faulkland picks up a win on the road against Russia at Llandilo Sports Complex.

    Faulkland United entered the qualifying tournament as one of Group D’s pre-competition favorites, but their campaign has fallen flat of expectations so far. The side has only notched one win to date, a dominant 3-0 opening victory over Russia, and has collected just one point from their last two matches, falling to Coopers Pen before playing out a dramatic 3-3 draw with Lucea this past Wednesday.

    Across the other three groups, the race for first place remains similarly tight. In Group A, table-toppers Cedar Grove will travel to face York United at the York Sports Complex, looking to avenge their scoreless draw in the first matchup between the two sides. A win for Cedar Grove would stretch their lead at the top to a commanding five points, putting them well on course for top spot. Conversely, a win for York United—their first of the entire qualifying tournament—would see them jump over Cedar Grove to claim first place in the group.

    In Group C, Mile Gully has a clear opportunity to climb to the top of the standings when they face off against last-place Vineyard at the Vineyard Community Centre. Vineyard has had a disappointing campaign so far, failing to pick up a single point through all their matches, leaving Mile Gully heavily favored to take all three points and the top spot.

    Group B’s qualifying race has been narrowed down to a two-team contest after the Portlanders withdrew from the competition, leaving Kings Academy and Axum tied on four points at the top of the table. No match between the two is scheduled for today, leaving their battle for first place to be decided in future fixtures.

    To recap Wednesday’s preliminary results: Cedar Grove earned a tight 2-1 away win over Brown’s Town, Kings Academy defeated Portlanders 3-0 in what would be Portlanders’ final match before withdrawal, the 3-3 draw between Lucea and Faulkland United held, and Coopers Pen picked up their second consecutive win with a 3-1 victory over Russia.

  • Jamaican ‘side hustles’ get $ 1 billion fund: First Union initiative expected to benefit thousands

    Jamaican ‘side hustles’ get $ 1 billion fund: First Union initiative expected to benefit thousands

    KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a landmark move to address Jamaica’s growing demand for accessible small business financing, First Union Financial Company Limited has unveiled a J$1 billion dedicated initiative aimed at lifting up thousands of working Jamaicans pursuing side businesses and budding entrepreneurs across the island.

    Named the Employees’ Side-Hustle and Entrepreneur Micro Loan Revolving Fund Programme, the new initiative is crafted to remove the most persistent barrier holding back income-generating ventures across Jamaica: limited access to affordable capital. By opening up financing to individuals looking to launch new side projects, scale existing small operations, or solidify their business foundations, the fund targets three core long-term goals: expanding financial independence for Jamaican households, increasing rates of local business ownership, and driving sustained, inclusive economic growth across the country, the company outlined in an official statement.

    Jonalisa Brooks, Group General Manager of First Union Financial, explained that the program was directly shaped by shifting labor and economic trends across Jamaica. In recent years, the country has seen a sharp rise in full-time employees launching supplementary side businesses to boost their household income, a trend that created an unmet need for targeted financial support.

    “We have watched a significant shift unfold: more and more Jamaicans are balancing full-time roles while building their own small business ventures on the side,” Brooks shared. “Countless people across the country are searching for actionable ways to add to their income, provide more stability for their families, and build a more secure financial future. We saw a clear gap: there was no dedicated financing program built specifically to support these ambitions, so we built one.”

    Beyond supporting new side-hustle launches, the initiative also delivers much-needed working capital to established small business owners who are ready to scale their operations and grow their impact. Brooks emphasized that access to affordable capital has long been the single biggest challenge facing small and micro enterprise owners across Jamaica, and the fund is designed to directly close that gap.

    “For emerging and established small business owners alike, limited access to financing remains the top barrier to growth,” Brooks noted. “Through this revolving fund, we are delivering practical, accessible funding solutions that meet entrepreneurs where they are. Our commitment to serving the people of Jamaica — working employees and aspiring business owners alike — has never been stronger.”

    Qualified applicants will be able to access loans of up to J$2.5 million to support a broad range of viable income-generating activities. Eligible sectors include retail and wholesale trade, agriculture and agro-processing, local manufacturing, transportation and logistics, professional services, import and distribution, technology and digital businesses, along with other vetted profitable ventures.

    A key innovative feature of the program is its revolving fund structure, which creates a self-sustaining model of financing for future generations of Jamaican entrepreneurs. As current borrowers repay their loans, those funds are cycled back into the pool to issue new loans, ensuring that capital remains available to support new business founders long into the future.

    Brooks emphasized that the launch comes at a critical juncture for Jamaica’s economic recovery and long-term development, noting that many of the country’s most successful, industry-leading businesses started as small side projects run by hardworking founders. “Thousands of Jamaicans have the talent, the drive, and the game-changing ideas to build thriving, successful enterprises — but too often, they are held back simply because they can’t access the capital they need to get off the ground or grow,” she said. “This fund is built to unlock that untapped potential.”

    “Jamaica needs more entrepreneurs, more local business owners, and more local job creators,” Brooks added. “By investing in hardworking people who are ready to invest in themselves and their ideas, we are building stronger local communities, more resilient small businesses, and ultimately a stronger, more prosperous Jamaican economy.”

    First Union Financial is now encouraging all interested eligible Jamaicans to learn more about the program, reach out to company offices for detailed information on eligibility criteria and application processes, and take advantage of the new financing opportunity.

  • Antonio Watson and Stacey-Ann Williams win national 400m titles

    Antonio Watson and Stacey-Ann Williams win national 400m titles

    One of Jamaica’s brightest track and field talents, former world 400-meter champion Antonio Watson, delivered a statement performance Sunday at the National Stadium, claiming his first-ever senior national title at the JAAA National Championships. Competing in the men’s 400-meter final, Watson crossed the finish line in a blistering 44.73 seconds – his fastest competitive time since his unforgettable underdog victory at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, where he stunned the global athletics community to take home gold.

    Watson made his decisive move coming around the final bend, edging into the top spot before the straightaway, and held off charging challengers to maintain his lead all the way to the line. Delano Kennedy secured second place with a solid time of 45.11 seconds, while Zaveir Brown rounded out the podium in third with a 45.26-second finish.

    On the women’s side of the 400-meter competition, Stacey-Ann Williams also earned her first senior national crown, clocking an impressive 50.33 seconds to claim the top spot on the podium. Leah Anderson finished as runner-up with a time of 51.04 seconds, while Shana Kay Anderson took third place after crossing the line in 51.52 seconds.

    The national championships serve as a key qualifying event for Jamaican athletes targeting international competitions, making the breakthrough titles for both Watson and Williams a major milestone in their respective careers. The event, held at Kingston’s iconic National Stadium, continues to showcase the depth of young sprinting talent that Jamaica has become globally renowned for.

  • PM’s Positive Jamaica recipient appeals for help as medical condition worsens

    PM’s Positive Jamaica recipient appeals for help as medical condition worsens

    At 16 years old, Hannah Dixon received a life-altering diagnosis: polymyositis, a rare inflammatory disorder that triggers the body’s immune system to attack healthy muscle tissue across both sides of the body, causing progressive weakness that erodes mobility and independence. Now 36, Dixon has spent decades navigating the daily challenges of her condition, enduring surgeries, relying on external support, and fighting to maintain dignity amid systemic barriers to employment and affordable care.

    In 2020, a lifeline came through Jamaica’s Positive Jamaica Foundation, overseen by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, which awarded Dixon $250,000 in assistance. The funding allowed her to undergo a critical, successful surgery to remove a blocked stent and a permanent draining tube that had caused her ongoing pain and complications. For a short time after the 2021 procedure, Dixon clung to hope that she could rebuild a more stable life. But that progress has been derailed by a severe new flare-up of her condition, leaving her once again facing a medical crisis she cannot afford to resolve on her own.

    Speaking to the Jamaica Observer, an anonymous attending physician explained that current tests confirm the aggressive worsening of Dixon’s symptoms, which have already robbed her of the ability to walk unassisted and raise her arm above shoulder height. The only remaining treatment option is two 1-gram doses of Rituximab, priced at approximately $200,000 per dose. For Dixon, who has been locked out of steady employment due to her health needs, the combined $400,000 cost is completely out of reach – even as her life depends on accessing the drug.

    “This is the last chance I have. Doctors say if this treatment doesn’t work, I could lose all function and become completely unresponsive,” Dixon shared in an interview with the *Sunday Observer*. “But I refuse to lose hope. I trust God has a plan for me, and I’m not ready to give up.”

    Dixon’s journey has been marked by repeated loss and reliance on the kindness of strangers. Five years ago, her father – her primary source of financial and emotional support – passed away. Since his death, she has relied on small, consistent promises from people she met while hospitalized, who have continued to step in to cover basic costs when she has nowhere else to turn. Beyond polymyositis, she also lives with diabetes and is at high risk of recurrent seizures, adding layers of complexity to her daily care.

    Her long-held dream of building a career in law has faded over the years as her condition progressed. When she pivoted to explore training in nursing, driven by a desire to help other patients facing similar struggles, she hit a repeated wall: employers consistently reject her applications due to her disability. Even so, Dixon says she remains eager to find work that fits her abilities, desperate to earn her own independence instead of relying on charity.

    While she says she understands why employers may hesitate to hire people with visible disabilities and chronic illness, she is calling for systemic change: fairer treatment, equal access to opportunity, and stronger enforcement of existing laws that protect disabled and chronically ill workers from discrimination. “Don’t underestimate us, don’t look down on us just because we face daily challenges,” Dixon said in a direct message to employers across Jamaica. “We are one people. The same blood runs through all of us. Just because I have a disability doesn’t make me less than anyone else. I can still contribute, I still have value, and I deserve the chance to prove that.”

    Beyond the life-saving Rituximab, Dixon is also appealing for two additional forms of support: a new wheelchair to replace her old, non-functional model, which has left her even more restricted in her ability to move around her community, and any open employment opportunity that can accommodate her physical limitations.

    “I just want the chance to try this treatment. You never know what can work unless you try,” she said. “If it helps ease the muscle weakness, it won’t just save my life – it will let me move without fear of falling, because when I fall now, I can’t get back up on my own. That’s the freedom I’m fighting for.”

    Closing with a message of collective responsibility, Dixon emphasized that disability and chronic illness can touch anyone, and mutual support is what makes a strong community. “We all have one life to live, and it’s our job to lift each other up and help each other chase our dreams,” she said. “Even a little help, a little love, can make the whole world a better place for everyone.”

  • Nigerian twins Taiwo and Kehinde marry identical pair with same names

    Nigerian twins Taiwo and Kehinde marry identical pair with same names

    In a celebration that has captured public imagination across Nigeria, two sets of identical and fraternal twins exchanged vows in a perfectly symmetrical joint wedding in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria, leaving attendees and onlookers stunned by its one-of-a-kind charm.

    The event, held over two days, blended deep Yoruba cultural tradition with modern celebration, and every detail was designed to highlight the unique bond between the four participants. Twin sisters Taiwo and Kehinde Adediran, identical twins, walked down the church aisle arm-in-arm with their father to marry twin brothers Taiwo and Kehinde Oguntoye, fraternal twins. Both brides wore matching white gowns, while both grooms sported identical tailored suits paired with matching bow ties. A cohort of twin children served as page boys and flower girls, large promotional posters displayed the two couples sharing identical first names, and the official wedding hashtag #TwinningInLove2026 left no question about the event’s singular theme.

    When the processional began, guests stood from their seats en masse, holding aloft smartphones to capture the once-in-a-lifetime moment, a scene that drew curious crowds of passersby outside the church venue. “Twins marrying twins, really? This is my first time seeing this!” one onlooker shouted, as crowds clustered around the newlyweds for post-ceremony photos.

    For everyone in attendance, the perfectly matched union — with Taiwo Adediran marrying Taiwo Oguntoye and Kehinde Adediran marrying Kehinde Oguntoye — felt almost too serendipitous to be true. Following the ceremony, Taiwo Oguntoye spoke with reporters, his face glowing with joy. “We have always wanted to marry together and to marry twins,” he said. “And by the special grace of God, it happened. I am so happy to marry the love of my life!”

    Both sets of twins are native to Ibadan, a region that has gained widespread recognition for its unusually high twin birth rate, a demographic quirk that has shaped local cultural attitudes around multiple births. The Oguntoye brothers have built their public careers around elevating and celebrating twin culture: active in regional tourism and cultural outreach, they founded Twins World Creations and launched the Twin Tourism initiative to showcase the region’s unique twin heritage to the world.

    The couples’ love story stretches back years, beginning when a professor at the University of Ibadan introduced the brothers to the Adediran sisters. The four quickly built a close friendship, but when the Oguntoyes proposed moving the relationship beyond friendship to romantic courtship, the sisters turned them down. “We said no, we don’t want to date twins!” bride Kehinde Adediran shared with a laugh. The pair of twin pairs drifted apart, until the brothers reached out to reconnect years later. This time, the sisters agreed to give the relationship a chance.

    The event was rooted firmly in Yoruba cultural tradition, where twins have long held a unique, honored place in community life. Following longstanding naming customs, the first-born twin of any gender pair is traditionally named Taiwo, while the second-born receives the name Kehinde — a convention that created the unusual shared names for the marrying couples. It is also common in Yoruba culture for twins to wear matching outfits from childhood, often coordinating everything from shoes to jewelry to small accessories, a custom that shaped every part of the wedding weekend.

    The celebrations kicked off on Friday with a traditional Yoruba engagement ceremony, where both couples wore coordinated red formal outfits as relatives danced around stacks of ceremonial gifts presented by the grooms’ family to the brides’ family. The gifts included everything from staple food items like yams and bottled drinks to textiles and new luggage. Wedding portraits were carefully staged to highlight the similarities between the sibling pairs, all of whom are in their early 40s, and guests paused repeatedly throughout the day to compare the matching features and mannerisms of the twins.

    On Saturday, the celebration moved from the church ceremony to a sprawling, lively Yoruba owambe reception, a large, festive community gathering. When the newlywed couples made their grand entrance, smoke machines filled the venue entryway and flashing lights cut through the haze as guests cheered and lifted their phones to capture the moment. Dozens of other twins were in attendance among the hundreds of guests, adding to the unique atmosphere of the day.

    “I’ve always wished to marry a twin as well,” shared Kehinde Akanji, a 26-year-old friend of the grooms who attended the event alongside his own twin brother. “It’s our first time seeing something like this.” For Dupe Aduroja Giwa, the Alaga (traditional master of ceremonies for Yoruba weddings) who led the engagement ceremony, decades of officiating weddings had never prepared her for an event like this. “Twins from the same family marrying twins from the same family?” she said. “I have never seen this in my life. It is a privilege to be part of it.”

    As attendees and social media observers have noted, it is not every day that one Taiwo marries another Taiwo, and one Kehinde marries another Kehinde — a historic union that honors twin heritage and Yoruba culture all at once.

  • Cape Verde fight back for second World Cup draw against Uruguay

    Cape Verde fight back for second World Cup draw against Uruguay

    MIAMI GARDENS, U.S. – In a stunning Group E World Cup clash that shook up the tournament standings on Sunday, World Cup first-timers Cape Verde fought back from a second-half deficit to snatch a 2-2 draw against two-time world champions Uruguay, extending their unlikely fairy tale run in the competition after a shock opening draw with Spain.

    The underdog African side got off to a dream start that caught Uruguay completely off guard. In the 21st minute, Kevin Pina etched his name into Cape Verde’s history books, scoring the nation’s first ever World Cup goal with a blistering long-range free kick. The effort slipped through a disorganized Uruguay defensive wall and beat goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, sending the underdog fans into wild celebrations.

    Uruguay, who had already been held to a 1-1 draw by Saudi Arabia in their opening fixture, looked set to fall to another upset until they turned the game around in the final minutes of the first half. First, in stoppage time before the break, a cross into the box led to Cape Verde defender Sidney Lopes Cabral heading the ball against his own post under heavy pressure from Rodrigo Bentancur. Maximiliano Araujo was first to react, nodding the loose ball into the net past stranded Cape Verde keeper Vozinha to level the score.

    Just two minutes later, in the sixth minute of first-half added time, Uruguay completed their quick turnaround. Araujo nodded a cross across the face of goal, and Agustin Canobbio connected cleanly with a volley to slot the ball home, giving the South American side a 2-1 lead going into halftime.

    Uruguay dominated the opening stages of the second half and looked poised to hold onto their lead, until a costly mistake from 40-year-old veteran keeper Muslera handed Cape Verde a lifeline. In the 61st minute, Muslera inexplicably rushed far off his goal line to intercept a through ball, only to be beaten to the touch by Cape Verde substitute Helio Varela. Varela controlled the ball beautifully with one touch and rolled it into the empty net to draw the underdog side level again.

    Late in the match, Cape Verde’s Vozinha – the hero of their opening draw with Spain – fumbled a shot that would have let Araujo tap into an open net, but the effort was ruled out for offside, sparing the keeper’s mistake. Real Madrid star Federico Valverde had a late chance to win the match for Uruguay, but he blazed a dangerous free kick from just outside the box over the crossbar.

    The result leaves both teams heading into their final group matches with very different outlooks. Cape Verde now sit with two points from two games, keeping their knockout stage hopes very much alive. Next Saturday, they will face off against a Saudi Arabia side that suffered a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Spain earlier on Sunday. A win for Cape Verde would secure their spot in the round of 16, a remarkable achievement for a debutant nation ranked far lower than both Uruguay and Spain.

    For two-time champion Uruguay, however, the outcome puts their progression hopes in serious jeopardy. The draw marks the second consecutive match where they have dropped points against a lower-ranked opponent, leaving them with just two points going into their final group game against European champions Spain. Uruguay now likely need a full three points against Spain to avoid being knocked out in the group stage for the second consecutive World Cup, a hugely disappointing result for a side with such a decorated tournament history.

    Before kickoff, Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa made two adjustments to the side that drew with Saudi Arabia, opting to leave star striker Darwin Nunez on the bench. Cape Verde manager Bubista made three changes to his starting lineup, all in attacking positions, as he looked to generate more offensive pressure than his side managed against Spain. Despite that attacking change, Uruguay carved out the first clear chance of the match, with Valverde drilling a left-footed effort just wide of the goal early on.

  • Card not surprised by national junior record

    Card not surprised by national junior record

    At the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA)/Puma National Junior & Senior Championships held at Kingston’s National Stadium on Friday, 19-year-old sprinter Gary Card delivered a career-defining performance that cemented his place among the world’s most exciting young track talents. Card clocked a blistering 9.93 seconds in the senior men’s 100m final to take second place, breaking the long-standing Jamaican junior men’s national record in the process. The breakout run also reshaped the global under-20 sprint rankings, pushing Card into the exclusive ranks of history’s fastest junior sprinters.

    Finishing just behind race winner Oblique Seville, who ran a world-leading 9.82 seconds this season, Card’s new time sliced 0.10 seconds off his own personal best of 10.03 seconds, set at the prestigious Penn Relays back in April. The previous Jamaican junior record of 9.99 seconds, set by Bouwahjgie Nkrumie in 2023, now falls to Card, who also sits atop 2024’s World Under-20 100m rankings. He outpaces Australia’s Gout Gout and Nigeria’s John Caleb, both of whom have clocked 10.00 seconds this season, to claim the number one spot.

    In the all-time global under-20 100m rankings, Card now shares third place with American sprinter Christian Miller, running just fractions behind the top two: Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo, who set the current world junior record of 9.91 seconds in 2022, and American Maurice Gleaton, who ran 9.92 seconds earlier this year. The teen sprinter credits his consistent preparation and elite training environment for the breakthrough, saying his daily work had long signaled that a fast time was on the horizon.

    “Based on training times and how I felt overall, I knew that I could go where I’ve never gone before — and I was excited to do so,” Card explained after the race.

    This season, Card made the deliberate choice to skip the high-profile ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships to enroll at the University of Technology, Jamaica, and join the elite MVP Track and Field Club, a decision that has already paid dividends. Lining up against far more experienced senior competitors in the final did not phase the young sprinter, a reality he attributes to training alongside some of the fastest athletes on the planet. He is a regular training partner of Kishane Thompson, an Olympic and World Championships medalist widely regarded as one of the top sprinters in the world today.

    “It’s not unusual to me because I train with the fastest man in the world. Every day I get beat up at training, so it just shows that it’s worth something,” Card added.

    With the 2024 international athletics season now hitting its stride, Card says he is ready and willing to compete at any championship he is selected for, regardless of scheduling conflicts. Two major events on the horizon are the Commonwealth Games in Scotland and the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, though the Commonwealth Games concludes just days before the start of the World Under-20 Championships. For Card, the selection does not matter — he is focused only on putting forward his best performance wherever he gets the chance.

    “I don’t have a preference. As long as I do the best I can anywhere, it’s really anything for me so I just have to run, to be honest,” Card said.

  • Stokes to return as England captain for 3rd New Zealand Test – McCullum

    Stokes to return as England captain for 3rd New Zealand Test – McCullum

    LONDON — Just one week out from cricket’s most high-stakes encounter of the England-New Zealand Test series, head coach Brendon McCullum has confirmed that star all-rounder Ben Stokes will reclaim his position as captain for the series-deciding third Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

    Stokes was forced to sit out England’s lopsided 253-run second Test defeat at the Oval earlier this week, after he violated the team’s agreed curfew in the wake of England’s opening series victory at Lord’s earlier this month. Though benched for the international clash, the 35-year-old was cleared to represent his domestic side Durham, and turned in an eye-catching 95-run innings against Northamptonshire in the County Championship on Saturday.

    Early Sunday, before the start of domestic play, both Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson — the Surrey seaman also dropped from the England squad for his role in the curfew violation — were withdrawn from their respective domestic matches. The move immediately sparked speculation of an impending international recall, which McCullum confirmed to reporters at the Oval on Sunday afternoon.

    “Ben will be back. He’ll be back and he’ll be captain,” said McCullum, a former New Zealand national captain himself. “I think everyone is excited about that, especially after seeing him hit some form for Durham. I’ve been speaking to Ben every single day since we had the incident and my assessment was that I was worried about him. To see him go out there and play some cricket and look like he was enjoying himself is really positive.”

    Hours after McCullum’s announcement, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officially confirmed both Stokes and Atkinson had been named in the 15-man squad for the third Test. However, the governing body also made clear that the pair had breached contractual rules requiring all England players to uphold strict standards of conduct at all times, acting in the best interests of English cricket. Both players received formal written warnings for their violation of team rules.

    The ECB also released the findings of its full disciplinary investigation into the curfew breach, which ultimately led to a violent altercation at a London nightclub involving Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa. According to the ECB’s official statement, Auvaa was the aggressor who attacked Atkinson, and an England team security officer sustained injuries during the clash.

    Crucially, the investigation cleared both Stokes and Atkinson of any wrongdoing connected to the confrontation. The ECB confirmed that “no blame should be attached to the players for violent conduct at the nightclub. Stokes was not involved in the altercation and did not witness either incident. The evidence the ECB has seen demonstrates that Atkinson was the victim of unprovoked attacks and did not retaliate on either occasion.” A separate review by England’s independent Cricket Regulator reached the same conclusion, finding the pair did nothing to provoke the incident.

    The announcement also addressed ongoing speculation surrounding a reported rift between McCullum and Stokes in the wake of England’s underwhelming 4-1 Ashes series defeat in Australia back in January, when questions emerged about whether the successful leadership partnership could continue. The pair have worked together as captain and head coach since 2022, delivering a number of historic upset victories for the national side alongside underperforming runs in major tournaments.

    When asked if the pair could still continue their leadership partnership effectively, McCullum pushed back on claims of tension. “We’ve worked together intimately for four years, we’ve achieved some cool things and we’ve let ourselves down in other things. We have robust conversations all the way through and that’s to be expected when you’re in positions of leadership. There’s mutual respect there. I’ve been very clear and very supportive of Ben throughout and particularly this week as well. I anticipate we’ll be able to work together really well with the week coming and I’m sure both of us still have that same vision for this cricket team.”

  • Roswell clocks PB 12.40 seconds to win 100m hurdles national title

    Roswell clocks PB 12.40 seconds to win 100m hurdles national title

    KINGSTON, Jamaica – On the closing Sunday of the JAAA National Senior and Junior Championships held at Kingston’s iconic National Stadium, 26-year-old hurdler Demisha Roswell turned years of consistent training and quiet perseverance into a career-defining victory, clocking a blistering new personal best of 12.40 seconds in a 0.7m/s tailwind to take home the women’s 100m hurdles national title.

    Roswell’s winning performance shaved 0.04 seconds off her previous personal best set earlier in the season, catapulting her to fourth place in the 2024 global world rankings for the event. The mark also ties her with fellow Jamaican hurdler Janeek Brown for fifth on the country’s all-time women’s 100m hurdles list, cementing her status as one of Jamaica’s top sprint hurdle contenders ahead of upcoming international competitions.

    Going into the championships, pre-race favorite Megan Tapper Simmonds was widely tipped to claim the top spot, but Roswell maintained flawless technique and explosive power from the first hurdle to the finish line, holding off Simmonds who crossed the line second in 12.47 seconds. Rising teenage star Kerrica Hill rounded out the top three with a solid time of 12.67 seconds, showcasing the depth of talent in Jamaican sprint hurdling.

    The men’s 110m hurdles final delivered another surprise first-time title win, as Demario Prince surged past a stacked field to claim gold with a season-best time of 13.13 seconds in a 0.2m/s wind. This marks Prince’s first ever national senior title, finishing well ahead of Jerome Campbell who took silver in 13.35 seconds, with Sharvis Simmonds claiming the bronze medal in 13.39 seconds.

    In the age-group competition, St Jago High’s Marquies Page delivered a thrilling late-stage burst to overtake competitors down the final stretch, winning the Under-20 boys’ 110m hurdles title in 13.34 seconds with a 1.8m/s tailwind. Kingston College’s Tajoneil Gordon finished just 0.03 seconds behind to take silver, while Noel Wright claimed third place in 13.55 seconds.

    The Under-20 girls’ 100m hurdles final ended in a one-two sweep for Wolmer’s Girls’ School, with Tiana Marshall taking gold in 13.10 seconds (1.7m/s) and teammate Akeelah Bell following close behind for silver in 13.33 seconds. Edwin Allen High’s Tashana Godfrey rounded out the podium with a third-place time of 13.40 seconds.

  • Father’s Day without dad

    Father’s Day without dad

    For nearly four decades, Winston Watson Jr. has marked Father’s Day alongside his father, Winston Watson Sr. This year, that long-held tradition will be broken — not by death, but by a mysterious, month-long disappearance that has left his family grieving, frustrated, and still clinging to hope.

    The 78-year-old Watson Sr., who received a formal dementia diagnosis back in 2018, was last seen at his home in Jamaica’s Hanover Parish Lethe District around 5 p.m. on May 19, according to official reports from Ramble Police. Witnesses describe him as a slim, dark-complexioned man standing 6’2”, who was wearing a black muscle tee, black athletic shorts, and white Crocs when he vanished.

    As Watson Jr. told local outlet the Jamaica Observer, his father had developed a consistent daily routine even after his dementia diagnosis: tending to the small family farm just steps from his home. On the day he went missing, Watson Sr. left for the fields as usual, but never returned at his expected time. It was his stepmother, Vernica Watson, who first raised the alarm.

    “Normally, she would call and say she couldn’t find him because he would often wander, but it was the first time she had called me so late,” Watson Jr. recalled. “He’s always farmed, reared animals and grown crops, and he would just walk the property and be back home before nightfall. When she called at 7 o’clock, I knew something was wrong.”

    At the time of the call, Watson Jr. — a serving police officer — had just arrived at his post in St James. He immediately explained the urgent situation to his supervisor, left for Hanover, and began searching for his father right away. When that first search turned up nothing, he and Vernica filed an official missing person report with local law enforcement.

    In the weeks that followed, the search effort swelled far beyond the immediate family. Friends, neighbors, and local residents of Lethe District joined the ground search, and even relatives who lived overseas flew back to Jamaica to help with the effort. All of those collective efforts have so far come up empty.

    Watson Jr. shared that after the first day of fruitless searching, the family got a tip that an elderly man matching his father’s description had been spotted in Paradise, a small community between Savanna-la-Mar and Ferris Cross in neighboring Westmorland Parish. He and his brother rushed to the area, canvassed streets, put up missing person posters, and interviewed locals, but again found no trace of Watson Sr. The next day, they returned to Westmorland alongside uniformed police officers, expanding the search corridor from Beirut District all the way to Little London. Multiple witnesses reported seeing a man matching the description just a day prior, so the search team spent a full week combing the area between Little London and Negril with no breakthrough.

    The weeks of uncertainty have been an emotional roller coaster for the entire family, Watson Jr. said, with frustration growing with each passing day that yields no new information. To incentivize tips from the public, the family put forward a JMD $500,000 reward for any information that leads to locating Watson Sr., but no credible leads have been submitted to date.

    As Father’s Day approaches, the pain of the uncertainty has grown sharper. This will be the first time in 37 years that Watson Jr. cannot personally wish his father a happy Father’s Day.

    “I just wish I could reunite with my dad. My days start with that wish, and they end with that wish,” he said. “I honestly thought we would find him within the first week, given how many people were working on the search. But as Father’s Day gets closer, it just gets harder.”

    The weight of the moment hit him unexpectedly recently, when his three-year-old grandson asked him, “Dad, have you found grandpa?” The question drove home how deeply the disappearance has shifted the entire family’s dynamic. Even as he navigates his own grief and worry, Watson Jr. said he feels obligated to maintain a sense of normalcy for his own two sons.

    Last Friday, both of his boys had school events planned ahead of Father’s Day, requiring his attendance at two different campuses. When his younger son’s teacher asked if he would like to give a short Father’s Day address to the group, he had to turn her down.

    “I don’t think I have the mentality or the strength to go up in front of other fathers and say anything positive at this point,” he explained. “I’m just trying to be there for my boys, but the general excitement of it all just isn’t there. I put on a brave face for them, because they look forward to Father’s Day every year, and I don’t want to let them down. I’m just doing what I can to get through it.”

    What makes the disappearance all the more baffling for the family is that Watson Sr. is a well-known figure across western Jamaica. For years he worked in the tourism industry running his own tour operation, and before that he worked as a truck driver, meaning people across multiple parishes would recognize him on sight. He lives in a tiny, tight-knit community where every local knows he has dementia and is prone to wandering, making his vanishing all the more puzzling.

    “The community is so small where we live that if he leaves the house, somebody has to see him,” Watson Jr. said. “Even the night he went missing, people were still out gathered around the town square talking. When we put up posters in Westmorland, most people said they knew him — he was always in those areas when I was growing up. It’s a complete mystery how he can be missing for a month and nobody has seen him. How is that possible?”

    As the weeks stretch on without answers, Watson Jr. admitted he has begun to question the unthinkable, wondering if his father is still alive. Even so, he said he is holding out hope that his father is simply lost, wandering somewhere across Jamaica, and will be found soon.

    Anyone with any information about the whereabouts of Winston Watson Sr. is asked to contact Ramble Police at 876-822-5211, the national police emergency line at 119, or the nearest local police station.